Texas

[007Sean]

I finally gave in and bought a bator:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/harris-farms-nurture-right-360

Getting 18 mixed fertile Silkie eggs sent my way in the coming up days. Hired my local go to guy to start framing out my coop. At least I get to save money on the roosts as 18-24 inches high is all my Silkie lady says they are willing to hop up.

I have one, too! If you need any help, just give me a holler!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I finally gave in and bought a bator:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/harris-farms-nurture-right-360

Getting 18 mixed fertile Silkie eggs sent my way in the coming up days. Hired my local go to guy to start framing out my coop. At least I get to save money on the roosts as 18-24 inches high is all my Silkie lady says they are willing to hop up.

Good choice, that's the one I bought last summer. It does pretty well once you get the temperature set right (use another thermometer - such as food or medical - as suggested). I personally don't worry too much about humidity. I used to incubate dry up in Maryland but I have to add water here. Even though it's slightly more humid here, it's hotter so I run the AC more which dries the air out lol. In summer you can probably just set the eggs out on a table outside and they'll hatch in 3 weeks, if a snake doesn't take them.

 

[Kiki]

Good choice, that's the one I bought last summer. It does pretty well once you get the temperature set right (use another thermometer - such as food or medical - as suggested). I personally don't worry too much about humidity. I used to incubate dry up in Maryland but I have to add water here. Even though it's slightly more humid here, it's hotter so I run the AC more which dries the air out lol. In summer you can probably just set the eggs out on a table outside and they'll hatch in 3 weeks, if a snake doesn't take them.

I can not wait til summer just so I can try just this, with quail eggs.

Setting them outside.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I have one, too! If you need any help, just give me a holler!

I will take any help I can get if it doesn't come witha complete instruction manual. Currently I am getting the coop built up and framed out as well. It is going to look cool when it is finished as I am going with a Texas Red, White and blue motif, and for sure it will be getting the biggest copper Texas star attached street-side I can find. The coop and run turned out a bit smaller than I wanted for the external framing as wifey wont let me kill some native plants, but hey an 8x8 coop with about 20 feet of roosting space at around 14 inches height should be fine for silkies. 4 feet will be dedicated to nesting boxes that I can just open from the outside as well. In front of those roosts and set back 6-8 inches will be their hardware cloth viewing windows.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Congrats!
Now make sure you go buy another thermometer or two and another humidity guage and calibrate/salt test them before you set eggs.

At only $2/egg I'm happy to trust the humidity guage, but will definately us one of my bread thermometers to verify the temps. Besides, I am in deep south texas we usually run 80-90% humidity regardless. Especially in spring, plus my wife is hoping we do not have a huge hatch rate as we do not really want 18 silkies.

 

[AllenK RGV]

At only $2/egg I'm happy to trust the humidity guage, but will definately us one of my bread thermometers to verify the temps. Besides, I am in deep south texas we usually run 80-90% humidity regardless. Especially in spring, plus my wife is hoping we do not have a huge hatch rate as we do not really want 18 silkies.

Ok, wifey does want 18 Silkies. Apparently I was projecting as I do not want 18 Silkies. She chewed on me over this last post.

I can't wait to post the pictures of the finalized coop, it is still going to be a week or two before it is finished as todays cement is curing. The roofing 4x4's are not set nor are the 2x4's for framing out the roof either. I bet my neighbors are so curious of what I am up to by having so many 4x4x12 and 4x4x10's planted, plus the 8 foot landscaping timbers planted in view of the street, but hey they will see soon enough once the coop is up, and then our follow on project will be her horse stable. I can see it all in my head in it's completed state and this combo deal is going to be so pretty.

 

[007Sean]

Ok, wifey does want 18 Silkies. Apparently I was projecting as I do not want 18 Silkies. She chewed on me over this last post.

Maybe you should be building a 'doghouse'!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Maybe you should be building a 'doghouse'!

My Sumatra live in the doghouse already! I want a completely hurricaine strapped structure for the silkies.

The stables are getting the expensive hurricaine straps, the silkies get the 10 year old varieties.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Maybe you should be building a 'doghouse'!

Anyways, there isn't room for me in any of the doghouses.

 

[007Sean]

Anyways, there isn't room for me in any of the doghouses.

Well, than theres your answer! j/k